makes him more afhamed of his Vilenefs. Terrors and Fears may drive him at first to feek the LORD; but it is Grace, the Riches, the Fulnefs of Grace, which binds him the Servant of the LORD for ever. I have blotted out as a Cloud thy Tranfgreffions, and as a thick Cloud thy Sins: return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Thy Sins and Iniquities I will remember no This is the Voice of pardoning Grace, which makes the Sinner fay, What have I to do any more with Idols? I have beard and obferved him: in Thee the Fatherlefs findeth Mercy.

more.

Mark with what Joy the Sinner is received, and how the Bowels of paternal Mercy found over him! Ephraim is my dear Son, he is a pleafant Child, for though I Spake against him, I do earnestly remember bim ftill. It is meet we should make merry, for this my Son was dead, but is alive again: be was loft, but is found.

Mark alfo the Pity of the LORD for those who flight his Mercy. "Alas, poor man, (faid GooDWILL, fpeaking of PLIABLE) is the celestial Glory of fo small Ef teem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the Hazard of a few Dif ficulties

ficulties to obtain it? How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? bow fhall I deliver thee, Ifrael? my Heart is turned within me, my Repentings are kindled together. And b. bolding the City, be wept over it, faying, O that thou hadst known the Things that make for thy Peace!

If the Sinner is not upbraided of his GOD, he cannot but blame, and upbraid himself: he confeffes, not only his Tranfgreffions before he was awakened, but his Wanderings and Errors afterwards. I will confefs my Tranfgreffions to the LORD, fays David, and mine Iniquities will I not bide. CHRISTIAN candidly confeffes he was no better than PLIABLE who went back, because he himself turned to go into the Way of Death: that had it not been for the Mercy of GoD in fending EVANGELIST, he had never got to the Gate. A pardoned Sinner is humble under the Sense of Pardon, and ascribes the Difference betwixt himself and others not to his own good Conduct, but to the diftinguishing Grace and Mercy of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.

JESUS is the Friend of Sinners, in saving his People from their Sins: he points out to them the high Way of Holiness, which was marked by himself in the Days of his

Flesh

Flesh, by Patriarchs, and Prophets, before, and by his Apostles after him. This is the Way in which they muft walk to arrive at MOUNT ZION, being the only Path which leads thither. For without Holiness no Man fball fee the LORD. Along this Path let us follow our Pilgrim, and mark the Difficulties, Dangers, Combats, and Victories that attend him; and may our Hearts treasure up the Cautions, and Comforts, our Attendance on CHRISTIAN may afford us.

One Thing in this Allegory may appear a little ftrange, that CHRISTIAN does not get rid of his Burden at the Gate: because we are told that Faith in CHRIST, always removes the Guilt of Sin. Let us remember, that Faith in CHRIST can only produce Effects in us, correfpondent to what we understand and believe concerning him. We are to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Deliverance from the Guilt and Burden of Sin, arifes from an Understanding and believing View, of that Sacrifice which atoned for it. A Sinner may apprehend and believe enough of the Mercy of GoD in CHRIST, to induce him to walk with Hope in the Way of Holiness; though not fully

to

to relieve his Confcience from Guilt: he will obtain that Mercy, when he obtains the Knowledge of CHRIST Crucified. The Crofs is the Place of Deliverance; "There (faid GOODWILL) thy BURDEN will fall from thy Back of itself."

As a Chriftian is to walk by Faith, and not by Sight, he needs Inftruction in the Things which concern his best Interests. The Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, is given to guide unto all Truth, as the feveral Parts of it become neceffary: he opens the Eyes of the Understanding, and by Means of the Word, forms in the Heart, the necessary Principles of Faith and Fear. So CHRISTIAN is fent to the Houfe of the INTERPRETER, that he may be fhewn excellent Things, and fuch as would be useful to him in his Journey.

Where is the Houfe of the INTERPETER, where he exhibits his Treafures of Wif dom? It is the HOLY SCRIPTURES, SYNTYCHE, which you have known from a Child, and which have made you wife to Salvation through Faith which is in JESUS CHRIST. These you know are profitable for Doctrine for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction

Righteoufnefs: by thefe, the HOLY SPIRIT makes the Man of GOD perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good Works: continue to refort to this facred School, that you may always have Understanding to keep his Law. Bleffed is the Man that heareth Wisdom, watching daily at his Gates, and waiting at the Pofts of his Doors.

JESUS Commands us to fearch the Scriptures, and affures us, that both in him, and his Followers, they must be fulfilled: how important then is it for us to know what they contain? to understand their facred Meaning and Import? This, like every other Bleffing, muft come by Prayer. When CHRISTIAN came to the House of the INTERPRETER, he knocked over and

over.

And David prayed, Open thou mine Eyes, that I may behold wondrous Things out of thy Law. Pray earnestly, my dear Friend, that the LORD the SPIRIT, may lead you into Truth, for unless the INTERPRETER be with you, whatever Amusement you may get by the Scriptures, or whatever Speculations you may gather from them, you will ftill be without the House, and your Heart never the better. Knock then for Entrance, and be not con

tent